The Change-Up

Two lifelong friends, Dave and Mitch, envy the other's life from opposite sides of responsibility. Dave admires Mitch's carefree days and the freedom to chase big deals, while Mitch longs for the stability, power, and status Dave enjoys at a prestigious law firm. After a drunken confession, a fountain and a lightning strike turn a night of boasting into a surreal swap that leaves them in each other's bodies. With their lives out of reach, they face the chaos of living as the other person, hiding the switch from spouses and bosses and trying not to ruin everything they care about. Time runs out as they juggle family duties, ethical dilemmas, romance, and ego, hoping to find a way back.

Directed by David Dobkin, The Change-Up arrived in 2011 as a take on the body swap comedy. Screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore fashion the premise around Bateman and Reynolds with a supporting cast that includes Mann, Wilde, and Arkin.

With a budget of 52,000,000, it grossed 75,500,000 worldwide, reflecting a decent box office return for a midrange comedy. Audiences appreciated Bateman and Reynolds dynamics, while critics were mixed about the crude humor and its treatment of relationships in places.

The film sits in the late 2000s tradition of ribald body-swap comedies that map male friendship onto domestic life, often trading workplace stakes for family chaos. It sparked conversations about work life balance and the fantasy of stepping into another person's world, then moved on and the price of friendship.

Critics noted the cast chemistry and the premise's energy, but some critics felt the running time wore down the jokes. Still, the film raises questions about ambition, loyalty, and the cost of juggling a high power career with a healthy home life. Its humor and heart linger after the credits.